Device for stowing a roller furling jib

ABSTRACT

A roller furling jib stowage device including a base having two openings spaced on opposite sides of a mount for receiving a headstay, and an arm which pivots about the mount and has a connector for affixing the arm at either of said openings. The arm further has an opening, which may be in the connector, for receiving the jib, so that the jib may be positioned either fore or aft of the headstay by swinging the arm about the mount.

' United States Patent [191 Baer [111 3,744,444 1 July 10,1973

DEVICE FOR STOWING ROLLER FURLING B Inventor: James F. Baer, 608 Second Key Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

33304 Filed: Apr. 5, 1972 Appl. No; 241,360

US. Cl. 114/106 Int. Cl B63h 9/06, B63h 9/08 Field of Search 114/102, 103, 104,

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS oR APPLICATIONS 7,843 15/1911 Great Britain 114 104 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Frankfort Attorney-John H.- Oltrnan et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A roller furling jib stowage device-including a base having two openings spaced on opposite sides of a mount for receiving a headsta y, and an arm which pivots about the mount and has a connector for affixing the arm at either of said openings The arm further has an opening, which'may be in the connector, for receiving the jib, so that the jib may be positioned either fore or aft of the headstay by swinging the arm about the mount.

4 -11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTED JUL 73 same or 2 DEVICE FOR STOWING A ROLLER FURLING JIB BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A roller furling jib is sometimes provided on a sail boat in order to facilitate furling this sail. Jib furling apparatus is described, by way of example, in US. Pat. No. 3,611,969. The jib is ordinarily located directly aft of the headstay. A problem is encountered with such a roller furling jib if a headsail is hoisted on the headstay. If the boat is tacking back and forth, the headsail is very likely to become fouled on the jib on at least some.

tacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a pivoting device to which the jib is attached and by means of which the jib can be pivoted from a position aft of the headstay to a position forward of the headstay where it can be stowed. With the jib in this forward position, a headsail can be hoisted on the headstay, and the boat can tack without the headsail becoming fouled on the jib. The roller furling jib stowage device includes a base to be affixed to the bow of the boat which has a central mount in the form of a post to receive the headstay. The base has two openings fore and aft of the headstay mount. An arm pivots about the mount and has a connector at one end which can be fastened to either of the fore and aft'openings. Another opening is provided in some portion of the arm, such as in the connector, to

- and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The bow 10 of a sail boat is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and mounted on the bow is a roller furling jib stowage device 12. The device 12 includes a stem head fitting 14 which includes a vertical base 16 in the form of a plate extending vertically a fore and aft of the bow 10. The fitting 14 also includes a horizontal base 18 which may be integral with the vertical base 16 and which is attached to the bow 10 as with screws 20.

The vertical base or plate 16 has a narrower plate 22 extendingtransversely at right angles to it, and the.

plate 22 may be integral with the plate 16. The plate 22 extends at an acute angle with respect to vertical in the prove the mounting of a roller furling jib on a sail boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for swinging a roller furling jib between two positions fore and aft of the headstay.

Another object of the invention is to stow the roller furling jib in the position forward of the headstay when it is desired to use a headsail on the headstay.

A further object of theinvention is to swing the roller furlingjib to a position aft of the headstay when it is dedesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary elevational view of the bow .of a sail boat showing a roller furling jib stowage device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the stowage device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 2;'

and

illustrated embodiment. Plate 22 also extends'below plate 16 and at an acute angle down along the bow 10 to which it is fastened as with screws.

Attached to plate 16, which is the vertical base, is a headstay mount 24 which may be in the form of a post having eyes 26 and 28 at upper and lower ends thereof respectively. The lower eye 28 is fastened with a pin or nut and bolt 30 to an opening in the vertical plate 16 adjacent the transverse plate 22. The upper eye 26 re ceives the lower end of the headstay 32, the headstay being fastened to the eye 26 with a suitable pin 34 and clevis 36.

The transverse plate 22 has openings 38 and 40 extending through it. A sail tack shackle for a headsail may be fastened to each of the openings 38 and 40 so that the tack of the headsail (the lower forward corner of the sail) may be attached to the plate 22 on either side of the vertical plate 16. A headsail may then be hoisted on the headstay 32 which is attached to the. top of the mast (not shown).

An arm 42 is pivotally mounted on the headstay post 24 by means of a collar 44 which loosely encircles the post 24 and is flexibly coupled to the arm 42 as with a nut and bolt 46. The arm 42 extends generally along the vertical plate 16 and may be swung around the post 24 between a position aft of the headstay mount 24 as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and a position forward of the headstay mount 24 as shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A pair of connector plates 48 and 50 may be welded to opposite sides of the far'end of the arm 42. These connector plates provide a connector means for attaching or fastening the arm 42 to the vertical plate 16 in either the aft position or the forward position.

The roller furling jib 52 is of conventional construction. The roller mechanism 54 will not be described in detail herein since the details are not a part of the pres ent invention. It will be understood, however, that the roller mechanism 54 serves to automatically wind the sail on the jib stay 52 when it is desired to furl the jib sail. The lower end 56 of the roller mechanism 54 is at- I tached with a pin 58 to an upper opening 60 in the connector plates 48, 50, although it will be understood that this opening could be provided in some other part of the arm 42. The lower ends of the connector plates 48, 50 have a forward opening 62 and an aft opening 64. When the connector means is in the rear position shown in solid lines, a pin 66 is used through the openings 62 to fasten the connector means and arm 42 to the vertical plate 16. There is an opening 68 in the vertical plate 16 through which the pin 66 passes. This opening 68, though not clearly visible in the drawings, is spaced a predetermined distance aft of the headstay mount 24, so that when the arm 42 is in the rear position shown in solid lines, the openings 62 are exactly aligned with the opening 68 so that the pin 66 can pass through all of these openings.

When the arm 42 is in the forward position shown in dashed lines, the openings 64 are aligned with a forward opening 70 in the vertical plate 16. The opening 70 is spaced a predetermined distance forward from the headstay mount 24 so that the openings 64 in the plates 48, and 50 will directly align with the opening 70 when the arm 42 is swung to the forward position. The arm 42 shifts slightly at the nut and bolt connection 46 to allow the openings 64 and 70 to be aligned. The pin 66 may then pass through all of these openings to attach the connector means 48, 50 to the vertical plate 16.

The roller furling jib stowage device 12 allows the headsail to be used on the headstay 32 without removing the roller furling jib 52. The device 12 allows the roller furling jib 52 to be swung about the headstay 32 and fastened in a position either aft of the headstay or forward of the headstay as desired. In the forward position of the jib 52, the jib is stowed out of the way of a headsail carried on the headstay 32. In the aft position of the jib 52, ajib sail can be used on the jib stay 52 in the normal manner. The device 12 allows for exact positioning of the jib 52 in either of these positions, regardless of the motion of the boat.

In operation, with the jib said full and bye, a headsail may be set on the headstay using a sail tack shackle for fastening the headsail to the downwind one of the openings 38 and 40. The jib sail is then furled by operating the roller mechanism 54. The roller furling jib halyard is then eased slightly so that-the roller furling jib 52 is sufficiently slack to facilitate removal of the pin 66. After the pin 66 is removed, the connector 48, 50 is lifted and then swung to windward and forward through 180 to the stowage position shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. The connector 48, 50 is then lowered into position and is fastened to the opening 70 with the pin 66. The roller furling jib halyard is then tightened sufficiently to prevent the jib from sagging aft of the headstay. The roller furling jib 52 is now stowed in the forward position clear of the headstay so that the headsail is more effective. The boat cn tack back and forth without fouling of the headsail.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 4, and since this modification is very nearly the same as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the same reference numerals are used for like parts. The only significant difference is that the vertical plate 16, which the vertical base, has a straight top edge in the embodiment of FIG. 4 rather than a peaked top edge as in the embodiment of FIGS. l-3. Other possible modificatien will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A. roller furling jib stowage device comprising a base having first and second openings spaced along a lengthwise portion thereof, a mount between said openings to receive a headstay, and arm means pivotal about said mount and having connector means to affix the same either at said first opening or said second opening, said arm means further having means to receive said jib so that said jib may be positioned either fore or aft of the headstay by swinging said arm means about said mount.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 including openings in said base spaced on opposite sides of said mount in a direction perpendicular to the spacing of said first and second openings for receivingthe tack of a headsail.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 in which said base includes an elongated plate having said first and second openings therein.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 in which said mount comprises a post affixed to' a central portion of said plate, said post having an eye for receiving said headstay.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which said connector means and said means to receive said jib are both integral portions of a plate member affixed to said arm means.

6. A device for stowing a jib forward of a headstay on a boat and allowing the jib to be positioned aft of the headstay for use in sailing, said device comprising 'a base to be affixed to the bow of the boat, said base having a central post to receive the headstay, and said base having first and second openings for location respectively fore and aft of the headstay, arm means pivotally mounted on said post to swing about said post, connector means at one end portion of said arm means to receive said jib, and means for fastening said connector means at either said first opening or said second opening.

7. A device for stowing a roller furling jib forward of a headstay on a sailboat to allow a headsail to be used on the headstay,said device comprising a stemhead fit ting to be attached to the bow of the boat, said stemhead fitting including an elongated base to extend fore and aft at said bow and means to affix said base to said bow, a headstay post affixed to a central portion of said base for receiving the headstay, an arm pivotally attached to said post and extending generally along said base, said base having first and second openings therein respectively spaced fore and aft from said post, and connector means on said arm to affix said arm either to said first opening or to said second opening, said connector means having means at which said roller furling jib may be attached so that said jib may be swung .with said arm around said headstay post and said connector means may be fastened to either, of said first and second openings to position said jib either fore or aft of said headstay.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 including openings in said base spaced on opposite sides of said'post in a direction perpendicular to the spacing of said first and second openings for receiving the tack of a headsail.

connector means comprises a plate affixed to said arm and having an upper opening for receiving said jib and at least one lower opening with a pin for attaching the same to said first and second openings of said base. 

1. A roller furling jib stowage device comprising a base having first and second openings spaced along a lengthwise portion thereof, a mount between said openings to receive a headstay, and arm means pivotal about said mount and having connector means to affix the same either at said first opening or said second opening, said arm means further having means to receive said jib so that said jib may be positioned either fore or aft of the headstay by swinging said arm means about said mount.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 including openings in said base spaced on opposite sides of said mount in a direction perpendicular to the spacing of said first and second openings for receiving the tack of a headsail.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 in which said base includes an elongated plate having said first and second openings therein.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 3 in which saiD mount comprises a post affixed to a central portion of said plate, said post having an eye for receiving said headstay.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which said connector means and said means to receive said jib are both integral portions of a plate member affixed to said arm means.
 6. A device for stowing a jib forward of a headstay on a boat and allowing the jib to be positioned aft of the headstay for use in sailing, said device comprising a base to be affixed to the bow of the boat, said base having a central post to receive the headstay, and said base having first and second openings for location respectively fore and aft of the headstay, arm means pivotally mounted on said post to swing about said post, connector means at one end portion of said arm means to receive said jib, and means for fastening said connector means at either said first opening or said second opening.
 7. A device for stowing a roller furling jib forward of a headstay on a sailboat to allow a headsail to be used on the headstay, said device comprising a stemhead fitting to be attached to the bow of the boat, said stemhead fitting including an elongated base to extend fore and aft at said bow and means to affix said base to said bow, a headstay post affixed to a central portion of said base for receiving the headstay, an arm pivotally attached to said post and extending generally along said base, said base having first and second openings therein respectively spaced fore and aft from said post, and connector means on said arm to affix said arm either to said first opening or to said second opening, said connector means having means at which said roller furling jib may be attached so that said jib may be swung with said arm around said headstay post and said connector means may be fastened to either of said first and second openings to position said jib either fore or aft of said headstay.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 7 including openings in said base spaced on opposite sides of said post in a direction perpendicular to the spacing of said first and second openings for receiving the tack of a headsail.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 7 in which said base includes an elongated plate having said first and second openings therein.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 9 in which said post has an eye to receive said headstay.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10 in which said connector means comprises a plate affixed to said arm and having an upper opening for receiving said jib and at least one lower opening with a pin for attaching the same to said first and second openings of said base. 